Hydraulic-pneumatic control device for controlling the flow of agents to hand-held dental apparatus

Abstract

A hydraulic-pneumatic control device characterized by a narrow elongated supply strip having a plurality of channels extending parallel to a longitudinal axis of the strip, a plurality of separate groups of openings spaced along the strip with each group having an opening in communication with each channel, a connecting block having a plurality of separate passages mounted on the strip with the passages in communication with the channels and a control block for each of the dental apparatuses whose agents are being regulated. Each of the control blocks is mounted on the separate group of openings of the supply strip for receiving agents from the channels therein and each block has pneumatically actuated valves for regulating the flow of the agent therethrough.

We claim: 
     
       1. A hydraulic-pneumatic control device for regulating the flow of agents to at least one hand-held dental apparatus, said device comprising a narrow, one piece, elongated supply strip having a plurality of channels extending from one end to the other end and parallel to a longitudinal axis of the supply strip, said supply strip having a plurality of separate groups of openings spaced along the strip with each group having an opening in communication with each channel; a connecting block having a plurality of separate passages for supplying agents to the supply strip, said block being secured on the supply strip with the separate passages in communication with selected channels of the strip; a control block for each of said dental apparatuses whose agents are being regulated, each of said control blocks having channels and being mounted on a separate group of openings of the supply strip with the channels of the control block receiving agents from the channels of the supply strip, each of said control blocks having pneumatically actuated valves for regulating the flow of the agent therethrough, each of said control blocks having a first channels receiving spray air and extending to a first valve of said valves, a second channel receiving chip blower air extending to a second valve of said valves, said first valve having a first outlet passage, said second valve having a second outlet passage, a line channel interconnecting said first and second outlet passages, a supply channel extending from said line channel for communication with a dental apparatus, and a control piston being disposed in the line channel with chip blower air acting on one side and spray air acting on the other side, said piston being movable in the line channel between a first position blocking flow from the second outlet passage and permitting flow from the first outlet passage to the supply channel and a second position blocking flow from the first discharge passage and permitting flow from the second discharge passage to the supply channel so that an application of a charge of chip blower air forces said piston to the second position to permit flow of the chip blower air to the supply channel and an application of a charge of spray air moves the piston to the first position permitting flow of the spray air to the supply channel; and means for sealing the ends of the channels of the supply strip and any of said groups of openings which are free of one of said blocks. 
     
     
       2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the supply strip is an extruded member consisting of synthetic material. 
     
     
       3. A device according to claim 1, wherein a water valve with a return suction device is provided on the control block. 
     
     
       4. A hydraulic-pneumatic control device for regulating the flow of agents to at least one hand-held dental apparatus, said device comprising a narrow, one piece, elongated supply strip having a plurality of channels extending from one end to the other end and parallel to a longitudinal axis of the supply strip, said supply strip having a plurality of separate groups of openings spaced along the strip with each group having an opening in communication with each channel; a connecting block having a manometer and a plurality of separate passages for supplying agents to the supply strip, said blocks being secured on the supply strip with the separate passages in communication with selected channels of the strip; a control block for each of said dental apparatuses whose agents are being regulated, each of said control blocks having channels and being mounted on a separate group of openings of the supply strip with the channels of the control block receiving agents from the channels of the supply strip, each of said control blocks having pneumatically actuated valves for regulating the flow of the agent therethrough, each of said control blocks having a passageway in communication with a channel of the strip charged with compressed air as an agent for a dental apparatus, a channel extending from said passageway in the control block through a choke valve to another channel in the strip in communication with the manometer so that the manometer on the connecting block can be utilized to register an indication of the pressure of the compressed air being conveyed to the dental apparatus from each control block and means for sealing the ends of the channels of the supply strip and any of said groups of openings which are free of one of said blocks. 
     
     
       5. A hydraulic-pneumatic control device for regulating the flow of agents to at least one hand-held dental apparatus, said device comprising a narrow, one piece, elongated supply strip having a plurality of channels extending from one end to the other end and parallel to a longitudinal axis of the supply strip, said supply strip having a plurality of separate groups of openings spaced along the strip with each group having an opening in communication with each channel; a connecting block having a plurality of separate passages for supplying agents to the supply strip; said block being secured on the supply strip with the separate passages in communication with selected channels of the strip; a control block for each of said dental apparatuses whose agents are being regulated, each of said control blocks having channels and being mounted on a separate group of openings of the supply strip with the channels of the control block receiving agents from the channels of the supply strip, each of said control blocks having pneumatically actuated diaphragm valves for regulating the flow of the agent therethrough, each of the diaphragm valves being disposed on a common external surface of the control block and having a feed line channel and an outlet passage arranged with openings arranged adjacent each other on said external surface, a common membrane being disposed on said external surface, a cover plate mounted on the external surface to hold the membrane between the surface and the cover, said cover having a fitting receiving control air to apply pressure on said common membrane to simultaneously close all of said diaphragm valves, each of said control blocks having a channel receiving spray air extending to one of said diaphragm valves, another channel receiving chip blower air extending to a second one of said diaphrahm valves, a line channel interconnecting the outlet passages of the diaphragm valves associated with the spray air and the chip blower air, a supply channel extending from the line channel for communication with a dental apparatus, a control piston disposed in the line channel with the chip blower air acting on one side and the spray air acting on another side, said piston being movable from a first position blocking flow on the chip blower air and permitting flow of the spray air to the supply channel and a second position blocking flow of the spray air and permitting flow of the chip blower air to the supply channel, and means for sealing the ends of the channels of the supply strip and any of said groups of openings which are 
     
     
       6. A device according to claim 5, wherein the supply strip is an extruded member consisting of synthetic material. 
     
     
       7. A device according to claim 5, wherein the control block includes a water control valve with a return suction device.